Pump jack



Aug. 22, 1939. R. E. wHlTTLEsr-:Y

PUMP J ACK Filed Aug. 8, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 AugQZZ, 1939. l Y R. E. wH|TTLEsEY 2,170,313

PUMP JACK Filed Aug. 8, 1938 4 SheetsSheet '2 Aug. '22, 1939 R. E. wHlTTLEsEY PUMP JACK Filed Aug. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 22, 1939. R.. E. wHrrrLEsEY Y PUMP JACK Filed Aug. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITE@ STAT' ATENT OFFIQ 19 Claims.

This invention relates generally to pump jacks or power heads such as are used for reciprocating deep well pumps of the plunger type, and more particularly concerns jacks or heads of a type wherein gearing is employed to increase or multiply the length of the stroke imparted to the pump string.

'Ihe desirability of a long pumping stroke, ,as Well as the difficulty of accomplishing a long lov pumping stroke when using the ordinary walking beam type of jack, are too well known to warrant discussion here. vIt will suffice to point out that despite the relatively short stroke to which the conventional walking beam type of jack is in, inherently limited, and the general recognition of this shortcoming of the conventional walking beam, nevertheless this type of equipment remains to date as the standard of the industry. This condition is due mainly to lack of a simple,

rugged, mechanical means, capable of being manufactured .at a reasonable cost, for produc.- ing a substantially longer pumping stroke than is practicably obtainable with the usual simple walking beam jack.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a pump jack or head capable of generating a relatively long pumping stroke, yet one which is of comparatively simple construction, sturdily built, and capable of being manufactured at comparatively low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact pump jack capable of generating a comparatively long pumping stroke, without requiring either an excessively large stroke of the drivingcrank, or a pumping arm of excessive length.

The invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of several typical forms which my invention may assume in practice, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of pumping jack in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified pumping jack in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a section on line -i of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a still further modied form of pumping jack in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a further modication; and

Fig. 7 is a section on line 'I-l of Fig. 6.

The present invention is capable of embodiment in a number of forms or arrangements;

(Cl. 'Z4-L11) several of these will presently be described in some detail, though it is to be understood that this detailed description is merely illustrative of the broad invention rather than restrictive thereon, no intention being had to exhaust the various forms which the invention may .assume in practice. With this understanding, I proceed to a detailed description of the specific form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A suitable foundation is indicated at IG, and 1 this foundation may be of concrete or any suitable construction. The Samson post structure S comprises two pairs of legs I l and l2, the lower ends of which are provided with suitable feet bolted to foundation iii, as indicated at i3, and l5 the upper ends of which converge to an apex and are braced byside plates i5 riveted thereto.

Mounted on the upper ends of leg pairs Il and i2 are bearings i6 for a horizontal shaft li, ,and pivotally mounted on this shaft il is an oscillating beam 26, which may be regarded as corresponding to the walking beam of the usual pumping jack. As indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, this walking beam 2E! may be made up of two parallel beams 23a and 20h, the lower side 25 of each of which has, near its center, a depending hub 2i through which the aforementioned shaft I1 extends, the walking beam structure thus being pivotally mounted on shaft I?. The rearward ends of walking beam members Zlla 30 and Zb .are interconnected by any suitable structure or head, as indicated at 25 in Fig. 1, and to this head 25 isv pivotally connected the usual pitmans 26.

Pitmans 26 are driven by cranks 21 of usual 35 type, having the usual counterweights 28. The drawings show only one pitman and one crank; it will be understood, however, that the other pitman and crank are just behind those illustrated, in accordance with present conventional 40 practice, Or, of course, instead of using double cranks and pitmans, a single crank .and pitman may be used, if desired. Cranks 2l are mounted on opposite ends of a drive shaft 29, which is rotated by suitable gear mechanism` encased within housing 3U mounted on foundation lil, said gear mechanism being driven from the primary source of power, not illustrated, through driving belt 3|.

The forward ends of walking beam members 28a and 26h have downwardly extending lugs 35 in which are mounted a gear axle S, the latter being secured against displacement as by means of pins 31 (Fig. 2).

Rotatably mounted on axle 36, inside walking beam lugs 35, is a pair of spaced pinions 38, 55

here in the form of spur gears. lIhese gears 38 mush with and are adapted to roll along certain hereafter described stationary gear members which act as reaction means, and also with certain other gear members which are operatively associated or connected with an oscillating sector head or sector-shaped pumping beam fit pivotally mounted on shaft il. Preferably, though this is not essential to the invention considered in its boader aspects, these last mentioned gears are mounted directly on sector head 32. Thus, as here illustratively shown, the forward sides of gears 35 mesh with internal gear teeth 35 on ar'- cuate gear members d mounted on T-flanges lli formed on oscillating sector head or sector-shaped pumping beam 42. This sector head d2 has a flange or web 43 extending rearwardly, between gears 38, to a hub ill rotatably mounted on shaft ll, web i3 having an opening 1215 affording clearance for shaft 36.

Head 42 is here indicated as having the usual arcuate face 4S, formed With parallel cable receiving grooves l, and provided at the tcp with a conventional means i8 for attachment or support of a usual cable [i9 carrying the rod suspension means 5B. Cable supporting means 5.15, as well as rod suspension means 50, may be of any suitable or conventional type, and the details thereof are accordingly not illustrated. Suspension means 55 is shown as supporting the polished rod 5l of the pump string.

The inner sides of spur gears 38 mesh with gear teeth 55 on stationary gear sectors 55, which are apertured at 5l to pass shaft l'i. Gear sectors 55 are further supported by means of downwardly extending portions 55a which are provided with flanges 59 riveted to Samson post legs i2. Stationary gear sectors 55 are thus positioned between the web 53 of oscillating sector head 52 and bearings i6 for pivot shaft il' (see Fig. 2).

The internal gear teeth on oscillating sector head i2 and the external gear teeth on stationary sectors 56 are concentric with reference to the axis of shaft Il, and gears 38 placed therebetween may be regarded as planetary gears. In operation, these planetary gears are oscillated by walking beam 2G (driven in the usual way from crank 2l), being caused to travel an arcuate path concentric with the axis of shaft Il, and therefore to roll on stationary gear sectors 5E, which act as reaction members causing gears 38 to rotate on their axis. In such action, the outer sides of gears 3S, in mesh with the gear teeth on sector head 42, cause the later to be moved in the same direction as the walking beam, but

through approximately twice the angular travel of the walking beam. With the radius of the sector teeth 39 greater than the radius of the sector teeth 55, the travel of the oscillating sector head approaches but does not quite equal twice the travel of the walking beam. It will be evident that the smaller the diameter of the planetary gears, and the greater the radii of the gear sectors, the nearer will the ratio of walking beam travel to oscillating sector-head travel approach one to two. In practice, the radius of the oscillating sector head is limited by factors of the same type that limit the length of the forward or pumping arm of a simple walking beam; and planetary gears 38 must be of sumcient size for strength as well as proper leverage. However, a design in which the radius of the sector head is o-f approximately the length of the pumping arm of a usual walking beam, with planetary gears of such relative size as is indicated in the drawings, produces an angular movement of the sector head which is nearly twice the movement of the walking beam. The pumping stroke is there multiplied by nearly two, without increase in the length of the oscillating pumping arm.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification, in which the walking beam is eliminated, the pitmans being directly connected to the axle of the planetary gears. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs, 3 and 4, the Samson post structure and driving gear box may be substantially the same as previously described in connection with Fig. 1, and for convenience corresponding members of the two embodiments are identified by the same reference numerals.

Drive shaft 25 of gear unit 30 has mounted thereon arms 56 having counterweights lil, and extending from each arm 55, at right angles to the direction of the latter, is a second arm 62. This arm 52, which is radial with reference to drive shaft 29, is the .driving or crank arm, arm 55 being employed to carry counterweights El in a position 96 removed from arm 52. Pivotally connected to the two crank arms '62 are forwardly reaching connecting rods or pitmans 64a and trib. Forw'ardly of rearward Samson post leg il, these rods` 35a and ldo curve inwardly toward one another (see Fig. 4) and their forward end portions 65 receive and support an axle El for a pair of planetary gears 53.

The outer or lower sides of gears 58 mesh with internal gear teeth 'l5 on arcuate gear members 'll mounted on T-fianges 'l2 of an oscillating sector head or sector-shaped pumping beam 13. Sector head 'd3 is pivotally mounted on shaft Il supported by Samson post structiure S, in the manner described in connection with Fig. l. It will be evident that sector head 13 of Figs. 3 and fi corresponds generally to sector head d2 of Figs. l and 2, the sector head of the form of Figs. 3 and ll differing from that of Figs. 1 and 2 only in that it is extended downwardly and rearwardly sufficiently to accommodate the position of planetary gears $8 carried by the described connecting rods @da and Eilb. The upper, or inner, sides of planetary gears 3d mesh with gear teeth 80 of stationary gear sectors 3l, the latter being perforated at the top to pass shaft il, as at 83. Flanged plates 84 riveted to sectors 8l and to Samson post legs il and l2 support said sectors in a stationary position.

In operation, connecting rods 64a and 64b driven by crank arms B2 effect oscillatory movement of planetary gears 58 along stationary gear sectors Bl, and the action of planetary gears 68 on gear members ll carried by sector head 13 is to oscillate the latter through an angle substantially double the angle travelled by gears 68, angular travel being understood to be referred to the axis of shaft il. It will be evident that the action is equivalent to that obtained in the form of Figs. l and 2, the only difference being that the planetary gears are carried directly by the connecting rods, with the walking beam 20 of Fig. l eliminated. As with the form of Figs. l andZ, a long pumping stroke is obtained with a compact mechanism having a comparatively short oscillating pumping beam.

Attention is here called to the fact that, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the counterweights 5i must be 90 removed from the crank arms 62 in order to properly counterbalance the pump string.

In the embodiments of the invention so far described, the angular travel of the pumping beam or head is slightly under twice the angular travel of the planetary gears. Fig. 5 sho-Ws an embodiment of the invention in which the angular travel of the oscillating pumping beam or head is somewhat greater than twice the angular travel of the planetary gears. The embodiment of Fig. 5 is in many respects similar to the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, and corresponding members are accordingly identiiied by the same reference numerals.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, an illustrative arrangement is shown in which a single planetary gear is used, with the sta.- tionary gear meshing with its lower or outer side, and the oscillating gear sector meshing with its inner or upper side. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, sector head 13a has a gear sector having external gear teeth 9| meshing with the upper or inner side oi planetary gear 08a, While the lower or outer side of said planetary gear meshes with internal gear teeth 92 on a gear member 93, which is mounted directly on base I0, as by means of bolts 94. Flanges 95 secured to the sides of gear member 93 conline planetary gear S8 against lateral displacement. The radius of sector head 13a is such that at the lower end of its stroke, it may travel in between flanges 95, above stationary gear 92.

In operation, planetary gear 68 is oscillated by the described crank and connecting rods, being caused to roll on stationary internal gear teeth 92. Gear 68a in so rolling on internal gear teeth 92 drives gear sector 90 of oscillating pumping beam or head 13a, causing the latter to travel through somewhat greater than twice the angular displacement of gear 68. Features of advantage in the form of Fig. 5 include increase in the travel of the oscillating sector head, and possibility of use of a single rather than a double set of gears.

Figs. 6 and '7 show a further modification, in which the planetary gear comprises two gear members of different radii. 'Ihe form of the apparatus chosen for illustration of this further modiiication is generally similar to that sho-wn in Figs, 3 and 4, and corresponding parts are accordingly identified by the same numerals. The apparatus of Figs. 6 and 7 may be regarded as the same as that of Figs. 3 and 4, excepting only for modification of the planetary gear means, the gear mounting on the oscillating sector head, and the spacing of the members parallel to axle shaft (compare Figs. 4 and 7).

Thus, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the planetary gear means consists of a spur gear |00 mounted at the center of axle 61, and two smaller gears l0! mounted on opposite sides of gear |00 on axle 61. Gears |00 and. |0| are all tight with one another, being indicated as pinned on axle S1. Smaller gears |0| mesh with external gear teeth 80 on stationary gear sectors 8|, While large gear |00 meshes with internal gear teeth |04 formed on an internal gear |05 mounted between and secured to arcuate supporting plates |06 fastened to anges 12b formed at the periphery of sector head 13b. Internal gear |05 is thus tightly mounted on the lower portion of oscillating sector head 13b, which latter is of the same general type as sector head 13 of Fig. 3, differing only in the provision for mounting internal gear |05 in a central position, so as to mesh with centrally located planetary gear |00.

The operation of the apparatus of Figs. 6 and 7 is as follows. Pitmans 64a. and 64b carrying planetary gear axle 61 cause small planetary gears |0| to roll on stationary gear sectors 8|. This action c'auses large planetary gear |00 to drive oscillating sector head 13b through internal gear |05 mounted on the latter. Because of the difference in radii of planetary gear members |00 and IOI-gear |00 meshing with the gear on the oscillating sector head being larger than gears |0| in mesh with stationary gear sector 8|-the angular travel or arc of swing of sector head 13b is increased, thus further increasing the length of the pumping stroke. The amount of this increase in travel of course depends upon the diierence between the radii of gears |00 and |0|, the greater the difference, the greater being the increase in length of stroke.

It will of course be understood that the type of planetary gear means shown in Figs, 6 and 7 is adaptable to any of the immediately described forms of the invention.

It will be evident, from the foregoing description of several typical embodiments of my invention, that the invention provides a compact pumping jack, characterized by exceptionally long stroke without increase in the length of the oscillating pumping beam or head, and characterized also by exceptional simplicity, sturdness of construction, and lo-w cost of manufacture.

While I have now described several typical embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are for illustrative purposes only, and are not to be regarded as limitative on the invention, since various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made Without departing from the broad scope of the invention or of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pump jack embodying an oscillating pumping beam to Which a pump string may be attached, a gear arranged to impart oscillating movement to said pumping beam, a reaction gear, intermediate gear means meshing with both said gears, and means for effecting reciprocative translation of said last mentioned gear means along said reaction gear.

2. A pump jack embodying an oscillating pumping beam to Which a pump string may be attached, a gear arranged to impart oscillating movement to said pumping beam, a stationary reaction gear, interemdiate gear means meshing with both said gears, and means for effecting reciprocative translation of said last mentioned gear means along said reaction gear. y

3. A pump jack embodying an oscillating pumping beam to which a pump string may be attached, a gear arranged to impart oscillating movement to said pumping beam, a reaction gear, an intermediate gear meshing with both said gears, and means including a crank and connecting rod for effecting reciprocative translation of said last mentioned gear along said reaction gear.

4. A pump jack embodying an oscillating pumping beam to which a pump string may be attached, a gear arranged to impart oscillating movement to said pumping beam, a reaction gear, an intermediate gear meshing with both said gears, and means including a crank and a connecting rod connected between said crank and said intermediate gear for effecting reciprocative translation of said last mentioned gear along said reaction gear.

5. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, a gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, a reaction gear of different radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear.

6. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, a gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, a reaction gear of diiierent radius concentric with said axis, planetary gear means comprising a pinion in mesh with said reaction gear, a second pinion concentric with said first mentioned pinion and fixed with relation thereto, said second pinion meshing with said gear on said pumping beam, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear means along said reaction gear.

7. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted ior support or" a pump string, an internal gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, an external reaction gear of lesser radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and

- means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear.

8. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, an external gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, an internal reaction gear of greater radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear.

9. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an said pumping beam 'being adapted for support of a pump string, a gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, a reaction gear of different radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear, including a power driven crank and connecting rod.

l0. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support oi a pump string, a gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, a reaction gear of diierent radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means. for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear, including a walking beam pivotally mounted on said pumping beam axis, a power driven crank and connecting rod operatively connected with one arm of said walking beam, and said planetary gear being rotatably mounted on the other arm of said walking beam.

1l. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, an internal gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, an external reaction` gear of lesser radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear alongl said reaction gear, including a walking beam pivotally mounted on said pumping beam axis, a power driven crank and connecting rod operatively connected with one arm of said walking beam, and said planetary gear'being rotatably mounted on the other arm of said walking beam.

l2. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, a gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, a reaction gear of different radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear, including a. power driven crank, and a connecting rod connected between said crank and said planetary gear.

13. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, an internal gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, an external reaction gear of lesser radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear, including a power driven crank, and a connecting rod connected between said crank and said planetary gear.

14. A pump jack embodying a pumping beam arranged for oscillation about an axis, said pumping beam being adapted for support of a pump string, an external gear on said pumping beam concentric with said axis, an internal reaction gear of greater radius concentric with said axis, a planetary gear in mesh with both said gears, and means for reciprocating said planetary gear along said reaction gear, including a power driven crank, and a connecting rod connected between said crank and said planetary gear.

l5. A pumping jack embodying a Samson post, a sector head pivotally mounted on said Samson post, an oscillating walking beam pivotally mounted on said. Samson post coaxially with said sector head, a gear on said sector head concentric with the pivot axis of said head, a stationary gear concentric with said pivot axis but of a radius different from the radius of said first mentioned gear, a planetary gear rotatably mounted on one arm of said walking beam and .positioned between and in mesh with said two concentric gears, and means connected with the other arm of said walking beam for oscillating the walking beam.

15. A pumping jack embodying. a Samson post, a sector head pivotally mounted on said Samson post, an oscillating walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post coaxially with said sector head, an internal gear on said sector 1 head concentric with the first axis of said head, a stationary external gear concentric with said pivot axis but of radius lesser than the radius of said internal gear, a planetary gear rotatably mounted on one arm of said walking beam and positioned between and in mesh with said two concentric gears, and means connected with the other arm of said walking beam for oscillating the walking beam.

17. A pumping jack embodying a Samson post, a sector head pivotally mounted on said Samson post, a gear on said sector head concentric with the pivot axis of said head, a stationary gear concentric with said ,pivot axis but of a. radius different from the radius of said iirst mentioned gear, a planetary gear positioned between and in mesh with said two concentric gears, an axle for said planetary gear, a power driven crank, and a connecting rod connected between said crank and the axle for said planetary gear.

i8. A pumping jack embodying a Samson post, a sector head pivotally mounted on said Samson post, an internal gear on said sector head concentric with the pivot axis of said head, a stationary external gear concentric with said pivot axis but of a radius less than the radius of said internal gear, a planetary gear positioned between and in mesh with said two concentric gears, an axle for said planetary gear, a power driven crank, and a connecting rod connected between said crank and the axle for said planetary gear.

19. A pumping jack embodying a Samson post, a sector head pivotally mounted on said Samson 10 post, an external gear on said sector head concentric with the pivot axis of said head, a stationary internal gear concentric with said pivot axis but of a radius greater than the radius of said external gear, a planetary gear positioned between and in mesh with said two concentric gears, an axle for said planetary gear, a power driven crank, and a connecting rod connected between said crank and the axle for said plane- 

